I remember absolutely loving the television show Battlebots when I was younger. As an apprentice coder, I would watch in awe as home-brewed robots would shoot each other with fire, smash each other with hammers, and otherwise pound each other into submission. Maybe that’s why I’m so intrigued by the Early Access release of Gladiabots. Check out the release trailer below, courtesy of developer GFX47 (which it seems is just one man by the name of Sebastien Dubois):

Doesn’t that just get your blood flowing? I can’t wait to delve into this one.

Gladiabots is a simplified programming game where you build killer robots, put together behavior algorithms for them, and then set them loose in an arena to take on other killer robots. The coding system looks simple to get started with; all the symbols are brightly colored and visually unique. Here’s a basic screenshot of what a robot’s AI system looks like:

Judging from the screenshots provided, however, it looks like Gladiabots will ask you to get much more complex as it progresses. For example:

It looks like a pretty interesting way to introduce coding, and will hopefully use the Early Access program successfully. When utilized well, small development teams like GFX47 can really benefit from the feedback it provides. And who doesn’t want to program a bunch of battle-ready robots to smash one another into oblivion.

The early Steam reviews for Gladiabots are almost universally positive, but there is no word yet on when it will graduate from Steam Early Access. It is ten percent off until August 16, but its full retail price is only $14.99. Even if you miss the opening sale, it still won’t set you back too far. Stay tuned for more on Gladiabots, and, until then, unleash your inner Grant Imahara (or at least your inner Barbie).